When the Washington Commanders signed safety Nick Cross to a two-year deal this March, the Maryland native knew exactly what he wanted—well, almost. The 24-year-old, who grew up cheering for the Redskins in Prince George's County, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts sporting No. 20. But that number is already taken by Commanders defensive back Quan Martin, and his college number, No. 3, belongs to veteran safety Will Harris.

So Cross turned to an unconventional teammate in his decision-making process: ChatGPT. In a recent interview with Kay Adams on "Up & Adams," Cross revealed he used the AI tool to visualize himself in different jerseys, ultimately settling on No. 25—a number that honors former Washington safety Ryan Clark, now an ESPN analyst.

"Right now, I'm wearing 25," Cross said. "My boy Quan got 20, Will Harris got 3. Still trying to work something out. But right now, I told my guy, RC, I was gonna wear 25." He admitted he's still hoping to negotiate for No. 3, but for now, the new look is growing on him.

Cross explained his preference for double-digit numbers from a practical standpoint: "I still like the 20s, I think, as a bigger safety, the 20s fit better. Depending on the single digit, it can work, but if the single digit is too skinny, then, I'm a little broader of a guy, so it's like the single digit can stretch too much."

When Adams asked if he was a Clinton Portis fan—the legendary Washington running back who wore No. 26—Cross lit up. He admitted being a huge fan as a kid, but with No. 26 already taken by running back Jeremy McNichols, Cross decided 25 was the perfect fit. He even showed Adams a photo of himself in a Commanders uniform wearing No. 25, generated with ChatGPT's help, to prove the AI-approved choice looked good.

For a player returning to his hometown team, Cross's jersey number journey is a modern twist on an age-old NFL tradition—and proof that even in football, a little tech support never hurts.